Title: The Ascension of Erebus: A Warhammer 40,000 Tale – Part One
In the grim darkness of the far future, a clandestine band of followers known as the Covenant operates beneath the notice of the mighty Imperium. Their actions transcend mere harmless meetings. They navigate the intricate web of intrigue, silencing those who obstruct their path. Quietly, they replace everyone around the charismatic Lorgar with suitable individuals. One such individual is Erebus, a figure destined for a dark and significant role in the saga of Warhammer 40,000.
Erebus, unlike his fellow followers, does not look to the Emperor with awe or reverence. His gaze is not fixed on the prophet’s tales of the impending arrival of the Master of Mankind. Instead, he thirsts for the vision of his own destiny, a destiny shaped by the ancient gods. He believes himself neither a hero nor a victim, but a necessary villain in the grand cosmic play.
In his youth, Erebus readily embraced his role as deceiver and manipulator. He did not struggle against his fate, nor did he seek to be anyone else. He was content with the understanding that he was fulfilling his destiny, that he was in his rightful place. It was this acceptance of his own fate that would eventually lead him down a path of power and treachery.
The secret followers of the Covenant were the first to volunteer for Ascension, a process that would transform them into the formidable warriors known as Space Marines. Erebus, seeing the transformation as a necessary blasphemy, stepped forward. His body, on the cusp of adulthood, was subjected to a painful metamorphosis. Many of his fellow adepts succumbed to the process, their bodies failing to withstand the transformation. But not Erebus.
His unyielding belief in his convictions carried him through the torment. His faith never wavered, even as the Ascension wracked his body with pain. He emerged from the ordeal not as a mere human, but as a terrifyingly powerful Space Marine of the 17th Legion.
With his new form, Erebus was free to stride boldly where he once had to sneak. He reveled in his new power, often spending time alone, admiring his reflection in mirrors. He mastered unfamiliar weapons, donned formidable power armor, and learned to utilize all its capabilities.
Despite his new status, Erebus remained disgusted by the goals of the Great Crusade. While he understood the appeal of a safe universe, separated from the chaotic otherworldly realm, he could not share in this ideal. Instead, he continued to inscribe ambiguous phrases from the sacred books of the Covenant onto his face. These tattoos were a testament to his continued loyalty to the ancient religion of Cist.
Erebus was not the strongest fighter, nor the most gifted commander. But his charisma and unwavering confidence in himself and his goals allowed him to rise through the ranks. He was a cunning manipulator, capable of winning the trust of any stranger. His words, like the tattoos on his face, were carefully chosen to appeal to the morals of whoever was the Legion’s ally at the time.
During his first warp jump, Erebus looked out the porthole, laughing at the absurdity of the people on the deck. They believed the Emperor’s claim that the Beyond did not exist, even as they hurled themselves into its realm. This realization only solidified Erebus’s belief in his own path. He understood that the Emperor’s cause, aimed at protecting humanity and expelling the old gods, only contributed to the opposite.
Years into the Great Crusade, Erebus realized that the Emperor’s cause was not only futile, but harmful. The bloody wars, the extermination of entire civilizations under the banner of the Imperium – these actions had consequences. And those consequences would echo throughout the universe, shaping the future of humanity in ways the Emperor could not foresee.
In the next installment of this series, we will continue to delve into the life and machinations of Erebus, his faith in the ancient gods, and his role in the downfall of the Imperium. Stay tuned, for the grim darkness of the far future is filled with tales of treachery, power, and the relentless pursuit of destiny.
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